News

Man suspected of fighting with San Leandro police officer arrested in Hayward

By Kristin J. Bender Oakland Tribune

Posted:
02/20/2013 05:44:56 PM PST

Updated:
02/21/2013 06:49:36 AM PST

HAYWARD -- Hayward police have arrested a man wanted on suspicion of assaulting a San Leandro police officer last week.

Officers arrested Solomon Cruz Espinoza, 22, of Union City after a chase Wednesday, police said. Officials did not provide details on the chase.

Espinoza has been wanted by police since Feb. 14, when he was driving a car near San Leandro's Nimitz Motel on Lewelling Boulevard that an officer pulled over for a suspected vehicle code violation. Espinoza also had warrants for assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence and vandalism, police said.

As he attempted to jump a fence, the officer was able to grab him, police said. The two struggled, and officers said the suspect slammed the officer into a wall before the officer grabbed his shirt and tackled him to the ground.

The man continued to fight even as the officer got one handcuff on him, and he threw the officer off his back and against the wall. The suspect turned and tried to grab the officer's gun.

As the struggle went on, the man's girlfriend, identified by police as Vanessa Clark, came out from a motel room and approached the officer "in a threatening manner" while demanding that he release her boyfriend. As the officer attempted to deal with both suspects, police said the man continued to try to grab the gun before the officer shoved him away, and then he ran off.

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The officer was scraped and bruised during the struggle.

Clark was arrested on suspicion of threatening harm to a police officer and delaying an officer in the performance of his duties.